Raise your hand if you've spent a considerable amount of time memorizing, or at least creating, your own personalized cheat sheet that catalogs the vast number of keyboard shortcuts for your DAW software of choice. I've had to do it twice: First when learning Steinberg’s Cubase [Tape Op #137] nearly 25 years ago, then again five years ago when I switched to PreSonus’ Studio One Pro [#154]. Depending on how regularly and often you use your DAW software, the learning curve can be relatively short, or in my case, rather protracted since I don't seem to have a brain that's conducive to retaining detailed instructions.
After much repetition, I have pretty much mastered the primary shortcuts for Studio One and forgotten most of those that apply to Cubase, but had I known there was a handy accessory that would have drastically sped up my learning curve, I probably would have jumped at the chance to adopt it. This is where Editors Keys keyboards come into play. This UK-based company has developed a complete line of ASCII keyboards with labeled layouts that conform to the shortcut keys of just about every DAW software on the market today. These keyboards are available in backlit or non-backlit standard and slimline form factors with wired or wireless configurations, available for Mac or PC.
Editors Keys provided me with my choice, and I opted for the PreSonus Studio One Keyboard – Backlit (wired/USB version). Its stout plastic housing is rigid and well-designed. The keys are not contoured but have a comfortable feel, with a satisfactory resistance level and precise travel that was easy to adapt to. The key mapping is color-coded to conform to eight different functional groupings that correspond quite logically to how the software operates. The Backlit version is definitely a benefit in my typically low-light setup, and I can alter the level of illumination or even turn the backlit feature off. So, the big question is: Will it speed up your workflow (a primary rationale)? That's a qualified "yes," with the caveat that there may still be a learning curve, depending on how long you've used your current DAW software, and the degree to which you've managed to remember all the keyboard shortcuts.
My own situation is that after five years with Studio One, I've got my most-used primary key commands pretty much committed to memory, so I haven't experienced a great leap forward in my overall speed. However, after a couple of recording sessions with the new PreSonus Studio One Keyboard – Backlit, I did notice two things: Instead of normally using two hands on the keyboard, I found myself often using only one, and I discovered I didn't have to use my damned mouse as often as I normally do. If, however, you're a relatively new user to a particular piece of DAW software or are thinking of making a switch, I would think that an Editors Keys DAW Keyboard might nicely accelerate your adaptation and ease into DAW navigation.
Editors Keys also set up Tape Op Publisher John Baccigaluppi with the Ableton Live Keyboard – Backlit, and here are his comments: “I agree with everything Rich has to say here, and I think this Backlit Keyboard adds a degree of professionalism to our studio. It says, ‘This is a studio with a purpose-built pro-looking (ASCII) keyboard, not whatever came with the computer that was designed for only typing and social media posting. And, as someone who is still a bit new to Ableton – I left Pro Tools for Ableton about three years ago – I have found the labeled shortcuts really handy, have learned a few new ones, and am working a bit more efficiently overall.” -JB